Kupwara, Mar 31:  At least eight shops been burgled upon during the intervening Wednesday night in Tarathpora Ramhall in this north-Kashmir district.

Aghast over the incident, a group of shopkeepers staged a protest and also blocked the Tarathpora-Ramhall road for over an hour, demanding immediate tracing of the culprits involved in the act.

The shops, as per an aggrieved shopkeeper, among others include two of footwear besides one each of textile, fast-food outlet, vegetable, stationary and hardware, belonging to Aftab Ahmad, Showkat Ahmad, Ali Mohammad Lone, Nazir Ahmad Lone, Ghulam Nabi and Mushtaq Ahmad respectively.

“This is not an isolated incident as the area has witnessed thefts of several shops in the recent past as well” the shopkeeper said adding that “However no one has been arrested yet.”

When contacted, SHO Villgam said  that a formal case has been registered in this regard and further investigations taken up. “All those responsible for the theft will be identified and booked under law very soon”, the official added. gns